WALES football chiefs will resist any attempt by Fulham to employ Mark Hughes in an advisory role.

WALES football chiefs will resist any attempt by Fulham to employ Mark Hughes in an advisory role.

The Cottagers are keen to appoint an experienced advisor to work two or three days a week alongside manager Chris Coleman.

The 32-year-old will select a man he admires from his playing days to fulfil the role - and Hughes certainly fits that criteria.

But while the out-of-work Terry Yorath was keen to express his interest in the post, the likelihood of Wales manager Hughes finding time to help one of his closest friends in football appears remote.

Wales are well placed to qualify for Euro 2004 and jet out to the USA today for Monday's friendly with their hosts in San Jose.

And even if Hughes were keen to assist - and there is no indication that he is - his seniors at the FAW have already indicated the difficulties that such an approach would encounter. Welsh FA Council member Trefor Lloyd-Hughes, who represents the North Wales Coast FA, said he felt sure any request by Hughes for leave of absence to work with Coleman would have to be ratified by all the councillors.

But he added: "I have my doubts that Mark would want to do the job because, while Chris maybe does need someone alongside him, I'm not sure that Mark is the man for it.

"From a personal point of view I would rather see Mark remain with Wales on a full-time basis because we don't want anything to distract him from the excellent work he is doing for Wales in the current European Champion-ship campaign."

Hughes, 39, has frequently passed his advice on to Cole-man since he was first appointed caretaker manager on April 17.

But his full-time involvement with Wales suggests Yorath is a more likely candidate.

* WALES semiprofessional side began their Four Nations Champion-ship defence by beating Scotland 2-1 at Carmarthen, Caersws striker Graham Evans getting a last minutewinner.

Wales next face England, who beat the Republic of Ireland 4-0 at Merthyr.

Wales went ahead after just 90 seconds when Lee Phillips scored from Barry team-mate Gary Lloyd's cross. Ian Murray then levelled for the Scots.